Writing a new narrative

and a story to enrich you

Photo by Tony Phan on Unsplash

Welcome to new subscribers and followers, it’s lovely to have you here.

As the count down to the end of my 50s begins - 23 days now until I turn 60 - I’m focusing on the narrative I want to live in this next decade, and it is a narrative of rebirth (and twinkles). It turns out my 50s were full of endings, but always inherent in an ending is a new beginning. I’ve found it fascinating that in all my tarot readings this year the card of Rebirth has come up every time.

Part of writing the new narrative and ‘rebirthing’ myself into the world is an adjustment in my personal style. I’ve always been a ‘classic’ kind of girl (how many navy blazers and Breton T-shirts can a girl have??), but I’ve liked a bit of quirkiness too - usually in the footwear department. I love a bit of leopard, or zebra, or a bright zingy colour, on my feet.

A spot of quirkiness is definitely going to stay and be taken up a notch, but the ‘classic’ is making way for a more relaxed, minimal style. For quirky I’m thinking embroidered jeans and embellished denim jackets (probably not together, but maybe), clusters of brooches on a plain jumper or jacket, definitely some leopard print on the feet - that kind of thing. And relaxed minimal is just that - limited colour palette (with a few brighter colours), relaxed styles of shirts, jackets, casual trousers etc.

And so yesterday I did the first big wardrobe cull. Anything that didn’t fit with the essence of the relaxed/minimal/quirky is in the bag for the charity shop, along with the items that either don’t fit me or they are wearing me, rather than me wearing them. (Anyone keen on navy blazers, size 16 UK? I have two up for grabs if you want them.) I also have a big basket of past-its-use-by clothing for recycling or up-cycling, textile art projects or cleaning rags. (Do get in touch if you are into using old textiles or woolies to create something cool!)

In the midst of all this sorting, I recalled a woman I saw a few weeks ago while out for lunch with a friend. Probably in her 60s, this woman was fully self expressed in her style. Definitely bohemian, and she rocked it. More than that, she just radiated ‘her’. And that’s what I want for my 60s - to radiate the essence of me. I forgot my twinkle in my 50s. I’m going to remember it in my 60s.

Which reminds me of a story…

This comes from Jamie Sams book, The Thirteen Original Clan Mothers, and it is a story that the Storyteller (Clan Mother of the Sixth Moon Cycle) tells her tribe’s Council of Wee People (children). It is the story of how the Firefly got its name.

Many, many moons ago Firefly was known by another name. He was a star and his name was Forgets to Twinkle. He was part of the Great Star Nation with his Seven Sister Stars, who made up the constellation of the Great Buffalo. The Seven Sister Stars held the Seven Sacred Directions: East, South, West, North, Above, Below, and Within. They teach the human tribe to honour the abundance that the Great Buffalo brings from every direction. Forgets to Twinkle was sad because his sisters had the missions of holding the Seven Sacred Directions and he didn’t know what his mission was. Sometimes he was so sad that he let his light fade away and that’s how he earned his name.

One night as Grandmother Moon was showing her full face, Forgets to Twinkle asked her for permission to leave the Sky Nation and go closer to the Earth Mother to discover more about his purpose in life. Grandmother Moon grants him permission, but warns him not to go too close to the Earth. The Earth Mother’s magnetism could hold him and keep him from coming home. Forgets to Twinkle agreed he would pay attention and not travel too far.

So he travelled through the Sky Nation, until he was hanging in the clouds above Sacred Mountain. He could see all of the Little Sisters and Brothers of the Creature Tribes below, playing in the moonlight. He called down to Brother Coyote and asked if he could join in. Of course, all the Earth creatures know that Coyote is the Trickster, but Forgets to Twinkle didn’t know that. Coyote calls back that he would love his Little Star Brother to play with him, but he was too far away.

And we can guess what happens now! Forgets to Twinkle goes closer and Coyote tricks him into coming closer still, until he is close enough that Coyote can grab him and gobble him up!

Well, the little Star is terrified to find himself inside Coyote’s stomach. He was so upset, he forgot to twinkle and had no idea how to get himself out of this predicament.

Meanwhile, Grandmother Moon looked down and noticed that Forgets to Twinkle was no-where to be seen. She looked and looked, but could not see him. So she sent the Stars-with-Tails to look for him. They searched high and low but couldn’t find him either.

Inside Coyote’s belly, Forgets to Twinkle realised he would have to start remembering all the wisdom his Seven Sisters had taught him, or he would never see them again. After a while, he remembers why he was called Forgets to Twinkle. He had always been afraid that his light was not as pretty as his sisters’, so he would only blink a little light here and there. Now he was trapped, he decided he had better trust in his ability to shine brightly. So he huffed and puffed and sent all of his light into his little star body, shining as brightly as he could.

Coyote got quite a shock when he realised his whole furry body was lit up like Grandfather Sun! He ran and ran, trying to hide from the Stars-with-Tails that he knew were looking for their Little Star Brother. Of course, he was so bright that he was just too obvious. In a panic, the Trickster opened his mouth and spat out the little star.

Coyote wasn’t going to get off that lightly though. The Stars-with-Tails told the Cloud People, who told the Thunderers, who told the Fire Sticks. The Cloud People gathered with the Raindrop People and the Ice-beings. Hinoh, the Thunder Chief began to roar and Coyote got his comeuppance in a grand hailstorm that soaked and pummelled his fur.

Meanwhile, Forgets to Twinkle was now trapped in Earth Mother’s magnetism. He could not move from the ground and go home. He was still shining brightly so that his Sky Relations could see where his was, but they could not rescue him because then they would be caught in the magnetism too. He called out to Earth Mother and begged her to release him.

Finally her voice travelled on the raging winds of the storm. “Forgets to Twinkle, you will have to live with the Children of Earth now. If I release my magnetism, you will be able to go home, but all of my children will fall off the earth and go flying into the sky. You are responsible for forgetting to pay attention to Grandmother Moon’s advice and warning. You must stay here with us and decide what kind of creature you would like to become.”

Forgets to Twinkle was sad but he knew Earth Mother was right. He had not paid attention and he had allowed himself to be tricked into ignoring Grandmother Moon’s warning. He wanted to be part of the Sky Nation and to see the world from above as he had always done. He knew he would never again forget to shine his light brightly, because he wanted his Sky Relations to always know where he was.

So he told Earth Mother that he wanted to be a flying creature who could shine like a star. Earth Mother agreed and changed him into a flying creature of the Insect Tribe. She put a tiny star in his tail so he could twinkle at his Sky Relations, reminding all other Little Brothers and Sisters in the Great Star Nation what would happen to them if they didn’t pay attention to their Elders.

This is how Forgets to Twinkle earned the name Lightning Bug or Firefly. When Firefly’s tail lights up, we Two-Leggeds are reminded to let our own Medicine shine, and to keep our twinkle so that the Trickster cannot fool us into becoming his supper.

As you know, I've been studying Human Design in depth. Every week there is a new transit chart when the Sun moves into a new ‘gate’. Right now (July 18 - July 24), the Sun is in gate 56 - the Storyteller, which means it is active for all of us regardless of where gate 56 appears (or not) in your chart. So if there was ever a good moment to consider (and maybe re-write) the story you want to live, it’s now. Grandfather Sun is shining his energy on our stories so that we can remember our twinkle. (He’s also shining light into those shadow corners of the stories we tell ourselves, so you might find yourself facing those too.)

If you are curious as to how Human Design can shed light onto the story you are here to live, and the twinkle that is uniquely yours, then you are welcome to book a call for a chat. I don’t do readings per se, I show you how and where to look into your own chart.

Until next time… with love, twinkles and a picture of my hydrangeas. Shoes in that pink would be funky eh? :-)

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We’re talking stories in Bones Tribe on Monday 21 July.

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